Designing a Zoo with Kids!

Designing a zoo is such an intriguing challenge. There are so many facets that go into building and running a fun (and safe!) zoo. We enjoyed this creative exercise because it was easy to set up, open-ended, and offered us a joint space to create together.

The Invitation:

I offered my son an assortment of materials like plastic animals, pipe cleaners, plastic cups, chalk, and his nature collection (shells, acorns, and pine cones). I wanted the activity to be as enticing and inviting as possible. Here's what our creative table looked like:

The Challenge:

Then, I issued him the challenge to create his own zoo. I placed the materials out in the morning and left them out all day so that he could go back and build/draw whenever inspiration hit.

The Discussion:

As he created, we talked about ideas like:

- What certain animals eat
- Where certain animals live
- Which animals are considered dangerous
- Whether certain animals could live together
- Why it's important to have a bathroom for people

It was really neat to see how the zoo developed over time and to hear my son's thoughts. Kids really are so imaginative and thoughtful, aren't they?

I hope you try this activity out with your kiddos too! And if you're looking for some great picture books to go along with this activity, here are